[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 20, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E80-E81]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO RICHARD O. ``DICK'' DEIGNAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TODD ROKITA

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 20, 2015

  Mr. ROKITA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and salute an 
extraordinary Hoosier, Richard O. ``Dick'' Deignan, who passed away on 
January 13, 2015. I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude and 
appreciation for his and his late wife Joan's leadership and service in 
my hometown of Munster, Indiana, in the Indianapolis, Indiana community 
and in other parts of our state.
  First, Mr. Deignan was willing to put the welfare of his fellow 
Americans above his own self interests. His service aboard the USS Hugh 
Purvis as a sailor in the United States Navy remained one of his 
proudest achievements and an obligation he was happy to undertake to 
ensure that our nation remained free and his children and grandchildren 
were afforded the same liberty promised by our Founding Fathers.
  Mr. Deignan was an astute businessman and well known in our 
community, not only as a Burger King franchise owner, but for the way 
he trained his employees, many of whom were seeking their first job. He 
sought to hire high-quality employees, train them well and empower 
them. In doing so, what he really did was help grow responsible members 
of the community.
  Dick built his business from nothing. Starting out, he had very 
little wealth or other resources. But what he, and so many others who 
have helped build and maintain this great country had, was a dream and 
the tireless work ethic to make it reality. He also recognized that 
what he and Joan built couldn't be done just anywhere in the world. 
Dick understood, and always promoted, our exceptionalism as the reason 
the United States had the ability to be the freest, most prosperous 
nation world history had ever seen, and the greatest force for good on 
earth.
  In his free time, he was a staunch advocate and supporter of the 
Munster Booster Club, aiding the purchase of athletic and scholastic 
equipment and supplies for the Munster School System.
  As a close friend of the Deignan children, Kerry and Owen, I quickly 
came to know the entire family, who lived on Chestnut Lane in Munster 
for years. They were typical of the best of American families, having 
and practicing the values we often talk about on this very floor.
  Joan Deignan was one of the best teachers I had in grade school. And 
Dick was the very first community leader to support my successful bid 
for Indiana Secretary of State. They believed in me as a product of a 
community in which they believed even more.

[[Page E81]]

  Mr. Deignan leaves two children and three grandchildren to carry on 
his legacy of community service and joins Joan, in eternity. On behalf 
of Hoosiers, I am humbled to honor Dick here today. He will be missed 
for his friendship, leadership, work ethic and his character. His 
legacy is evidence that hard work combined with the opportunities of 
American exceptionalism can lead to the realization of the American 
Dream, however an individual wants to define it. Rest in peace my 
friend, and thank you for your example and leadership.

                          ____________________